Her Dragon To Slay(56)

“Commander, this is not a battle you can wage or an opponent you can kill, you have to let the healing happen. Your Kyndel is a very strong woman. She suffered not only a physical blow but she’s had a lot to understand and accept. I believe that’s what she is doing and as soon as she has reconciled it all, she will awaken.” And with that she left to check on her other patients.

Hours later Rayne was still at Kyndel’s bedside when Lance walked in. He was holding her hand to his face telling her stories of what he had planned for their life together. Thank the heavens Lance cleared his throat as the story reached an incredibly personal point. “Any change, Commander?”

Rayne jumped to his feet and was in front of Lance in an instant, all his fear, anger and fatigue driving his actions, “Does it look like there’s any change? Would I be sitting here in this damn room like an impotent child if something had changed or if there was anything I could do?’ He ran his hand through his already terribly disheveled hair. “What the hell are you doing here?” His face was red, his breathing labored as he grabbed Lance’s shirt and began to shake the other Dragon Guardsman.

He was taking all his frustrations out on Lance but he was just so afraid for his mate that he needed to blow off some steam so he lashed out at the first target he could find. Rayne pulled his brethren until there were mere inches separating their faces, “What have you done to find the traitor that did this to my mate?”

“We can find no trace of him, sir.” He would thank Lance later for keeping it formal to help him wrestle his raging emotions.

Before he could think, he had Lance backed against the far wall, his hand at his throat, “You will get your ass and that of every Dragon Guardsman in this lair back out there and find that piece of shit.” With every word Rayne squeezed harder and spoke louder until he was roaring.

“Rayne, stop yelling, I’m trying to sleep over here.”

Rayne didn’t even remember moving, the next thing he knew he was on his knees, beside Kyndel’s bed staring at her lovely face. “Mo chroi? What did you say?”

“I asked you to be quiet. I’m sleeping, Rayne.” She opened her eyes and just like every other time she turned those beautiful emerald orbs on him, time stood still.

He took her face in his hands and kissed her lightly on the lips, being very careful not to hurt her but needing the contact to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes again. She was smiling and her eyes were twinkling. Suddenly his world was right again. She was awake and she was smiling. Thank the Universe!

“How do you feel, mo ghra’?”

“I was fine until you woke me up trying to kill Lance. What does a girl have to do around here to get some sleep?” She cocked that one eyebrow at him again and he could not stop the smile that eclipsed his face. She was going to be ok. His beautiful mate was going to be just fine. “And why are you trying to kill Lance?”

Rayne had the decency to look embarrassed. She turned her gaze to Lance and damn his friend, he shrugged his shoulders, “I’ll leave you two to talk. Glad you’re back with us, Spitfire.” He made an about face and left before she could get another word out.

“How do you feel, my love?” Rayne asked again.

“I have a little headache and other than being awakened from the best nap ever, I feel fine. Why?”

“You were hurt and have been napping for four days.” Surprise overrode all other emotions on her beautifully expressive face. “Do you remember anything that happened?” By now Rayne was sitting on the bed leaning over with his face just inches from hers. He wanted to be as close to her as possible.

He watched her face. It appeared she was searching for any memory of what had happened. Recognition flashed and her body shivered, he knew she remembered. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, held it for a moment and then slowly exhaled. He knew she was trying to be brave but could tell from the death grip on his hand, she was having a hard time controlling her emotions. When she looked back at him there was a fierce determination and something he feared to hope for, shining there.

“I remember that jerk had a knife to my neck and was spouting off like a lunatic. He was going to slit my throat, I felt the knife dig deeper into my skin and then nothing.” She had a questioning look. “The next thing I know you’re trying to kill Lance and telling me that I’ve been asleep for four days.”

He knew Siobhan would want to examine her to make sure everything was ok and that he should be rushing to tell his mate everything that had happened while she had been unconscious but he had waited four long days to look into her gorgeous emerald eyes and he wanted to savor this moment.